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My parents bought this tin curiosity at an estate sale in Natchez, Mississippi, for $15 in the early 1970s. They think it's a squirrel cage. True?

S.M., New York City

What it is: Folk Art Squirrel Cage

Lightweight and inexpensive, tin became popular in the 18th century as a replacement for heavy iron, expensive copper, and delicate pewter. It was used for cooking tools and other household objects, but the metal's practicality didn't stop at the kitchen sink. Throughout the 18th and 19th centuries, birds, squirrels, and other small animals were domesticated and often kept in tin enclosures with rotating exercise wheels. Many cages were shaped like houses or barns and decorated with punched geometric shapes. Prices begin at $200, but those with original paint, like this one, are far more valuable. Red or blue examples fetch the most.